Jackson Jr reports to prison in North Carolina

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Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. — once a rising Democratic star whose political fortunes imploded over the use of campaign finances to support lavish personal spending — began his federal prison sentence Monday, a spokeswoman said.

Bunnie Jackson-Ransom said Jackson was accompanied to the medium-security facility in Butner, North Carolina, by attorney C.K. Hoffler and Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

“He is in good spirits, all things considered,” Butterfield said, according to a news release.

Jackson, 48, was sentenced in August to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to misuse of $750,000 in campaign funds, money that went to personal expenses like vacations, fur coats and movie memorabilia.

His wife, Sandra Jackson, was also caught up in the case and pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns that failed to account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxable income. She was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Jackson has promised to pay $200,000 towards his $750,000 fraud judgment by November 1, according to court documents.

Filed last week, the documents show that Jackson has so far been unable to meet his financial obligations in the judgment and has promised to sell a property he owns in Washington in order to start paying it off.

The filing requests that the former Illinois congressman be given until June 2014 to pay the full amount. He will need to submit a status report by mid-May.